Craft Photography
open call

Crafts don't vanish all at once. They fade, quietly, unphotographed.
We're calling on the people who can stop that.

Who can participate
Craft photographers worldwide (emerging or professional).

What
One outstanding, editorial photograph of a traditional craft (finished or in the making) shot in its homeland. It should be strong enough to stand as the face of that craft in our atlas.

The craft may already be listed in our atlas, or it may be one we've never documented. If it's new to us, our research team will look into it.

When
Submissions close 10 December 2026, 23:59 CET.

Where will it live
Online, in bāstān's global Craft & Creators Atlas, representing the craft to the world.

What is the atlas
bāstān is an independent, not-for-profit heritage and design platform, founded in Amsterdam and registered in the Netherlands.
The Craft & Creators Atlas is a living, global map of traditional crafts and their creators, organized by material, technique, and vitality, and free to explore.

Why
To keep heritage alive, to make artisans seen, and to help the world learn and remember.

Opportunity
A permanent place in a global atlas, worldwide visibility for your work, and a potential exhibition with our cultural partners.

Fee
Free to enter.

How
Submit through the form below.

What happens next
Submissions are reviewed by a selection panel of photographers, designers, and bāstān's creative director. We review every photograph with care. It may take a week or more before we come back to you - and we always do. If your photograph is selected, it will live in bāstān's global Craft & Creators Atlas, credited to you, representing that craft to the world.

rights & terms

You keep your copyright. We always credit you, never sell your photo, and ask before any exhibition.

  • You retain full copyright of your photograph at all times. bāstān claims no ownership of your work.

  • By submitting, you grant bāstān a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to:

    • display your photograph in the online Craft & Creators Atlas;

    • use it in bāstān's communications, website, social media, newsletters, and press materials relating to the Atlas and the open call;

    • This licence is non-commercial. bāstān will not sell, license to third parties, or otherwise commercially exploit your photograph. The licence continues for as long as your photograph remains in the Atlas.

  • Your name will be credited wherever your photograph appears.

  • If we would like to include your photograph in a physical exhibition, we will ask for your consent first. Exhibition is never automatic.

  • You remain free to use, publish, sell, or license your photograph elsewhere. Submitting to bāstān does not restrict you in any way.

  • By submitting, you confirm that:

    • the photograph is your own original work;

    • you hold all rights necessary to grant this licence;

    • you have obtained any necessary consent from identifiable people appearing in the photograph;

    • you have permission to photograph in the location, where required;

    • the photograph does not infringe any third party's rights;

    • the photograph is a genuine photograph and not generated by artificial intelligence.

    You agree to indemnify bāstān against any claim, loss, or expense arising from a breach of these warranties.

  • Submission does not guarantee inclusion. bāstān selects at its own discretion, and we'll always come back to you with a note.

  • We may crop, resize, or colour-adjust your photograph as needed to display it in the Atlas. We will never alter its content or meaning.

  • Entry is free. Submissions are unpaid. Entry is open worldwide to photographers of any level.

  • You may ask us to remove your photograph from the Atlas at any time. Anything already printed or published cannot be recalled.

  • bāstān provides the Atlas and this open call in good faith. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss arising from your participation.

  • Your name and contact details are used only to administer this open call and to credit your work, and are handled in accordance with our privacy policy.

  • We cannot return submitted files, and we cannot accept responsibility for files lost in transmission.

  • These terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands. Any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Netherlands.

  • bāstān may update these terms; the version published at the time of your submission applies. Photographers whose photographs are used in the Atlas will be notified by email about the updated terms.

Submit your photo